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A comment on The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi.

Re:The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi by yishanl on Sunday July 05, 2015 @07:11PM (#9835517)
Does anyone really expect anything of airline flights anymore? At least those of us in commercial/economy class?

Years ago great customer service was defined as giving someone the can and some free peanuts. Now it's touch screen "entertainment in-flight systems." Not like any of those things have made the flying experience any better. So I just pick the cheapest flights available. Sure, Wi-Fi is a plus, but the environment in economy isn't exactly ideal for work.

I've primed myself to fall asleep as soon as I get into my seat before takeoff, regardless of time of flight.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi by joezydeco on Sunday July 05, 2015 @08:01PM (#9835762)
Now it's touch screen "entertainment in-flight systems"...

Enjoy that while it lasts. United is moving to a BYOD system where you use your own phone or tablet to watch in-flight entertainment. The new cabins have removed all screens and armrest audio systems (oh yeah, and headphones too)

http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/ente...

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi by delecti on Sunday July 05, 2015 @08:26PM (#9835867)
Honestly, I prefer that anyway. I've got no shortage of devices with plenty of my own media, and now I don't have to be stuck 12" from a screen I can't reliably turn off, that will be shining advertisements and redundant safety lessons in my face when I'm trying to sleep.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi by reagency on Monday July 06, 2015 @01:47AM (#9837024)
Yeah the screens suck, but BYOD with no in-Seat USB charger sucks.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi by r00fus on Monday July 06, 2015 @03:18AM (#9837345)
Just buy a 10-20Ah portable battery and you're set for mobile devices. I can weather a 10-12h flight with one of those and my iPad/iPhone. If you have a recent laptop, you should be able to weather 5-8hr for work; I seriously doubt you could get better on even an international flight.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi by delecti on Monday July 06, 2015 @12:44PM (#9840364)
Extra bonus is having the battery available the rest of the time. My phone's battery life isn't quite what I'd desire, so I just keep a spare ~10Ah battery in my purse. It gets used maybe once a week at most, but it's worth it for those occasions.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi by bitwize on Sunday July 05, 2015 @08:10PM (#9835803)
United are cheapskates; they rank slightly above Spirit Airlines in my book.

And at least I can get good games on my Android tablet. The ones on Virgin America flights are shitty SDL ports of old arcade and puzzle games with glitchy graphics.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi by ryan-c on Sunday July 05, 2015 @09:20PM (#9836054)
Those "shitty SDL ports" are open source games written 10 to 20 years ago by one guy, for fun. Trash talking them is somewhat uncalled for.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi by akhilcacharya on Sunday July 05, 2015 @08:34PM (#9835897)
But do they provide charging ports or outlets?
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Re:The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi by joezydeco on Sunday July 05, 2015 @10:48PM (#9836426)
On some planes, mostly in the Economy Plus areas. Eventually all will have power outlets but, knowing UAL, it will be a very slow process. Your best bet is an international flight.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi by peter303 on Sunday July 05, 2015 @08:51PM (#9835952)
In seat electronics adds a couple pounds and inch or two of seat width. Either saves the airlines a lot.
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Re:The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi by joezydeco on Monday July 06, 2015 @10:13AM (#9839194)
This is the new IFE box on the Boeing 737-800. It's massive.

http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/BN-HO911_0325mi_M_...

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi by yishanl on Sunday July 05, 2015 @08:11PM (#9835807)
Hilarious.

That's why the key is not having any expectations.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi by thaumasiotes on Sunday July 05, 2015 @08:20PM (#9835844)
> Now it's touch screen "entertainment in-flight systems." Not like any of those things have made the flying experience any better.

I couldn't disagree more. A fourteen-hour flight with in-flight movies is vastly superior to a fourteen-hour flight with the back of the seat in front of you.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi by yishanl on Sunday July 05, 2015 @08:45PM (#9835927)
Well, we've had movies on airplanes for a long time. And I agree it makes things marginally more bearable.

But just because they've moved it from a shared television on the aisle/ceiling that everyone had to lean out to watch from to a little touch-screen in front of a chair hasn't really changed the fact that flying is a waste of time. And very uncomfortable.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi by thaumasiotes on Sunday July 05, 2015 @09:46PM (#9836158)
You didn't say flying was a waste of time. You said the experience hadn't gotten any better. Those aren't related ideas.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi by yishanl on Sunday July 05, 2015 @10:14PM (#9836288)
Uh, a bad experience is a waste of time.

And I'd call these opinions, not ideas.

Not sure if I agree with being downvoted but out of my hands. :)

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi by manacit on Monday July 06, 2015 @12:17AM (#9836740)
You're being downvoted because you said flying is a waste of time, which is banal to the point of trolling.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi by mjcohen on Sunday July 05, 2015 @11:02PM (#9836485)
It's not a waste of time if it gets you where you want/need to go.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:The economics of in-flight Wi-Fi by Gustomaximus on Sunday July 05, 2015 @08:24PM (#9835861)
Cheapest is the main variable but when it's a reasonable difference (probably under 10%) I'll choose based on flight experience expectations - planes,food, entertainment, wifi, FF program etc. Personally I wouldn't write off the customer value of these add-on segments.
[ Parent | on HN ]